Game Of The Year! (Take 3)

by Jeff Clark on Jan 22, 2009 9:30 AM EST in Articles Comment 38 comments

Supermandunk_medium

[Flashback] Christmas Day! Finals rematch! Rivalry renewed! The unquestioned number one team in the world and defending Champion Celtics take on their rivals the Lakers in a clash for the ages! The Celtics enter the game on a 19 game winning streak! I can't stop using exclamation points! Then... the game started. Thud.

[Flashback 2] January 9: Riding a 3 game losing streak, the Celtics limp into Cleveland. Still, we are the defending Champs until someone knocks us off. We beat the Cavs last year on our way to the Championship and we can do it again. LeBron James is playing out of his mind, but 3 is still greater than 1 right? People are jumping on the Cavs bandwagon and calling them the best. If we win this game, we make a statement that says "don't count us out just yet." Then... the game started. Splat.

Funny how those two games served as bookends to our bad stretch. The Lakers knocked us off balance and the Cavs woke us up. Now the team is rolling again and it is time for another test. How will the team respond?

Orlando is now considered the best team in all the land (according to various power polls). They are riding a 7 game winning streak (so somebody's win streak will end tonight) and they just got back from a West Coast trip that went considerably better than ours did (including wins over San Antonio, the Lakers, and Denver). They haven't played since Saturday, so they are either well rested or rusty, but either way they've had plenty of time to game plan for the Celtics.

Meanwhile the Celtics are starting to roll themselves. They haven't just been beating teams, they're blowing them out. They have been setting the tone early and seem to be getting back to the basics of defense. They've had a few days to rest between games and even though this is a back-to-back game, they know they have 2 days off after this. So no excuses.

It seems like eons ago, but the Celtics did beat the Magic earlier this year. Pierce lit up Hedo and Rashard for 17 points in the 3rd quarter alone and the Celtics cruised to a 19 point win. However, don't count on the Magic rolling over like the Nets or the Suns did this week.

Jameer Nelson is playing the best basketball of his career, Howard just had two 20 rebound games in a row, and the team set an NBA record by hitting 23 three pointers against the Kings. Oh yeah, and they (like every contender) are hungry to knock off the Champs.

"They’re a great team. We’re a good team," said Nelson, the Magic point guard. "We’re trying to get to where they are."

This may not be the biggest game of the year, but it is a big game. This is our third shot at making a statement. The top contenders always want to knock off the Defending Champs. It gives them the confidence to believe that they can defeat us when it matters in the playoffs. As defending champs, it is better to knock these teams down a peg and place that seed of doubt in their heads. So far the Celts are 0-2 in that regard. They get another shot at it tonight.

Are the Champs back on track? Or are the contenders really passing us by? We'll see.

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I dont see how this is a big game, or a game that anyone should put any stock into. The Magic havent played since saturday, this will be our 3rd game in 4 nights…and its the regular season!! call me crazy but this is very far from a must win, would it be nice to win? heck ya but i dont think it means anymore than last nights game..the magic are capable of beating us, this is a bigger game for them clearly.

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 22, 2009 8:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

obviously I disagree

I think there are test games throughout the year – ones that you know the other team is getting up for and ones you’d like to see what your team is made of – this is one of those games

sure, it counts as much as the rest of the games, but it matters

"Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." Michael Scott

by Jeff Clark on Jan 22, 2009 8:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think theres a 0% chance we sweep the magic in the regular season, I believe we play them 4 times, they’re just too good for that, and the way they’ve been playing I just dont see it as the end of the world if we lose tonight, i want the c’s to win very badly to send a message, but Its gonna be tough…its a big game to try and move up in the standings and make the media shut up about the magic for the time being…but this is a giggantic game for them, they’re gonna be jacked as much as the cavs and lakers…and we’ll see them again

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 22, 2009 8:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it’s a very big game. The Celtics haven’t beaten a really good team on the road all year.

This is the NBA equivalent of the Red Sox going into NY for a three game series in July, trailing the Yankees by 2 games. Will that series ultimately determine the pennant? No, but each win or loss represents a two-game swing in the standings.

by Brickowski on Jan 22, 2009 8:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

We’ve beaten Houston and Detriot on the road this year already.

Boston Celtics - 2008 World Champions

by QuinielaBox on Jan 22, 2009 9:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Throw the Hawks on that list, which at the time was a big game and the hawks were playing better…look both the cavs and lakers were looking for revenge, and the cavs not only for the playoffs but for opening night…every road win is a good one

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 22, 2009 9:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's a big game in the sense that...

…either team believes they can beat anyone.

The C’s win if they limit turnovers and defend the 3pt line. Hedo, RLewis and Nelson aren’t exactly defensive stoppers. They can be scored on & defended by the C’s. Defend Dwight w. single coverage unless he’s deep in the post and can’t pass.

by LuckyNumber07 on Jan 22, 2009 8:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

We’ve already beat the Magic by 19 this season…and Im finding it amazing how many people need to see more from the celtics (in the media) or the people that have written us off…we’re 35-9!!! … also Im not worried about the magic in the standings as long as the cavs finish lower than us.

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 22, 2009 9:00 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Magic didn't have Nelson, Pietrus, or Bogans in that game.

Bogans doesn’t really count this year, but Nelson & Pietrus certainly do and their absence played a role in the Magic’s loss against the C’s. Not really making an excuse for Orlando, just pointing out a fact.

Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website

by erivera7 on Jan 22, 2009 1:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I know, you’re right…but really, its the same thing as last year when you beat us without KG…it is what it is – a win. I think we win that game earlier this season regardless. Tonights game is a different story, it will be tough and the Magic are clearly going to taken this as a huge game and have had 4 days to prepare for us

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 22, 2009 1:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yup. We shall see. May the best team win.

Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website

by erivera7 on Jan 22, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

back2back

lol having days off after the game doesnt make u any less tired from the day before – playing the 2nd of a back to back on the road is a huge disadvantage u silly man

by j1mmy on Jan 22, 2009 9:07 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

especially when the other team is coming off of 4 days off….Im scratching my head on this schedule, i mean seriously, we’re lucky to have the record we have, out of all the elite teams our schedule is set up for us to lose, plain and simple

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 22, 2009 9:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 22, 2009 6:16 AM PST up repl

I was wondering the same thing. Is it me or does it seem like La and Clevland never play back to back? It seems like they ply one have 2 off.

by angryguy77 on Jan 22, 2009 11:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The lakers

Had a “road” game against the clippers(whos roster was worse than a d leagueslast night) and have a home game against the wizards tonight, what a tough back-to-back huh?

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 22, 2009 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What I'd like to see (three options!)

It is a big game, but it’s more about how we win or lose.

1) Boston to lose. (By a lot)
I don’t mind if we lose by a lot ~~I’m not a bandwagon jumper!~~ as long as we do it because we stink up the place, and not because those guys are better than we are.

2) Boston to blow Orlando out.
I want it to be a team effort and not 1 person carrying the game. We need confidence as a team, we don’t need one individual to pick up the game and carry it on his back. We’re not the Cavs. Or the Heat. Or the Lakers. Or the – etc.

3) A close game.
This is more or less what the basketball fan in me wants to see. A close game, where both teams are hitting a lot of shots, not having many turnovers, trading blows by playing a great game. Not by both hitting nothing. No stretches where someone’s playing shit. Just pure basketball goodness. That’s a possibility too. Though I doubt it, with Boston’s latest struggles to find their focus.

I’m guessing we’re going to lose.

- Dirk

by Kiorrik on Jan 22, 2009 9:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

wups

crap, the “I’m not a bandwagon jumper” shouldn’t have a strikethrough but two -’s in front/after it :P oh well :)

- Dirk

by Kiorrik on Jan 22, 2009 9:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yardstick game against ourselves

Beating Orlando is not the main point. It’s Winning against Orlando. What is the difference? We could be playing any other team tonight and it is important that we win. 36-9 will match the pace we had last year. For us to match it with targets in our head is nothing less than impressive. For us to be able to do this (somewhat) under the radar makes it even better.

by afflatus on Jan 22, 2009 9:17 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I know, right? Its amazing how many people are questioning us, but at the same time praising the 8 loss teams (none of whom have as many wins) and even calling the spurs, hornets,rockets,pistons etc contenders and not being hard on them whatsoever, some of whom have more losses than we had all of last year

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 22, 2009 9:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

rondo-nelsen will determine which way it goes. go rondo. our-subs-their subs. go eddie.

by nazzbo on Jan 22, 2009 9:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Houston? Detroit?

Bah humbug. Those are mediocre teams. The good teams are the Lakers, Cleveland, San Antonio and Orlando, and the won-lost records prove it. Along with the Celtics those teams are the elite of the NBA.

Detroit is no longer a contending team. And when the Celitics played Houston, there was no McGrady, if memory serves.

They also lost to Portland, an up-and-coming team that isn’t quite there yet.

Pierce needs to neutralize Hedo. I see that as the key matchup. So much of Orlando’s offense runs through Hedo, even more than it runs through Nelson.

by Brickowski on Jan 22, 2009 11:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Like I said before, it isnt a big suprise that Cleveland and LA won against us on there homecourt, they had the revenge factor, LA for the stomping in the finals specifically game 6, the cavs for the playoffs and season opener, and please San Antonio is not an elite team, a good team, but not in the class of the others mentioned, the celtics are ridiculed and dropping on power rankings across the net and are 35-9, yet the 28-13 spurs still get to be mentioned in the breath as an elite team and whenever they get blown out by the 76ers of the world noone gives a hoot…when we played Houston there actually was McGrady, which big deal? they’re probably better off without him… We’ve lost to good and bad teams on the road and vice-versa.

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 22, 2009 11:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah and we also lost 2 times in orlando last season

so again, we lose tonight – means nothing.
I can not stess enough THE MAGIC HAVE HAD 4 DAYS OFF, AND THIS IS OUR 3RD GAME IN 4 NIGHTS…its a set-up to lose, if we win it would be extremly impressive

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 22, 2009 11:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

well Rondo is going to have to outplay Nelson who has been playing well,Perk is going to have to stay on the floor on Howard, PP/Hedo has to be about neutral, and KG has to have a good to great game. If all that happens and Ray shoots well, we’ will win. If someone is really off, we probably won’t

by wahz on Jan 22, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It’s not a set up to lose. It’s a set-up to see if the Celtics can suck it up in the 4th quarter instead of collapsing.

by Brickowski on Jan 22, 2009 11:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

well, who do you think is going to have the fresh legs once the 4th quarter comes around, the young team who had 4 days off, or the old team on its 3rd game in 4 nights? I mean seriously i dont see how this can even be considered a big game, or how anyone can put any stock into a game with those kind of differences…

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 22, 2009 11:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ancient

That was the same argument I made about Phoenix on MLK Day.

by The Real Large James 2 on Jan 22, 2009 11:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I know

and it was a valid one – except we didnt have a whopping 4 days off, and I dont think anythings an excuse for being down 30 an entire game…

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 22, 2009 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Guys someone must have said it but yeah its a big game!

We keep from going down 2 in the loss column again if we win. And if you look at everyones schedules, we start to have a significantly easier schedule a few days after the all star break/ If we can get some shooting and big man help by then and be even with the other guys, we are going to win the title. If we don’t get hc our path will be MUCH harder. ALL games against Cle, Orl, and LA will be more important than any other and our home games against them are THE most important.

by wahz on Jan 22, 2009 11:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

You guys really think we are “rolling again”? I know we have a win streak going, but it’s against some pretty weak teams. I’ll be surprised if we are able to beat Orlando tonight.

by LarBrd33 on Jan 22, 2009 12:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The reason why that point isnt valid at all is because during the slump we were losing to teams worse than anyone we’ve played in this 6 game streak

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 22, 2009 12:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Remember the Finals

Last year people said the Cs were gonna be tired because they had played all 7 games in every series prior to the Finals, etc. Didn’t happen. Playing regularly HELPS teams, not the other way around. 4 days off is a BAD thing, not a good thing… teams get lazy and rusty and out of sync. And since Orlando is a hop and a skip from Miami, travel time is not a big factor. So all in all, Cs should do well tonight. The key will be Rondo (obviously, when is it not?), and those damn TOs…

by DRJ1 on Jan 22, 2009 1:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

22 yr old rondo being the key is concerning on a team with 3 future hall of famers..either that or hes an all star starter

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 22, 2009 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

... well, except for the Pistons

Sorry, they took Detroit in 6… But remember going into game 1 of that series, everybody said wow, Detroit has had 6 DAYS OFF, and the Cs had to play Detroit just one day after finishing off the Cavs in a game 7…. Cs were at a big disadvantage, they said. But we won Game 1 pretty handily and went on to win the series in 6.

by DRJ1 on Jan 22, 2009 1:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

tough game to win… in their buidling and the second game in a back to back. I think we’ll be competitive but would not be surprised if our shots aren’t falling early. I think we’re a better defensive team than orlando but if we play one of these games where we worry about our O instead of our D then it’s going to be a long night. I like our chances. It’s an opportunity to improve our record and try and get home court so I think all the guys know what they’re playing for. also orlando has won 7 straight so that’s added incentive to win this game

by Red2 on Jan 22, 2009 1:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

WE may be a little tired, but I don’t think that can be an excuse for a team that won a championship last year. Its situations like this that seperate the great from the good. This is only a topic because many of us(myself included) have had our confidence in this team shaken the past few weeks. In the end, it wont come down to whos tired, but if WE want this win enough. We are the better team and tired or not, we should be able to will ourself to victory.

by angryguy77 on Jan 22, 2009 2:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Championship caliber team and say great team (Champion) never use excuses..
Wether they played back to back or not they should give thier best.

by spoiled on Jan 22, 2009 4:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not so much that its a back-to-back, its that the Magic have had a mini-vacation to be able to prepare for us tonight add that to the fact its our 3rd game in 4 nights….no excuses, just facts…very far from a playoff preview as far as im concerned

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 22, 2009 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs